Newsagent granted alcohol licence but no sales after 11pm

COUNCILLOR HAD VOICED CONCERN OVER MIDNIGHT APPLICATION

- By DALE SPRIDGEON Local Democracy Reporter dalespridgeonareachplccom

A LONG-ESTABLISHED Porthmadog newsagents has been granted permission to sell alcohol - despite concerns over increased alcohol availability.

Robert's Newsagents and convenience store on High Street - which is known locally as Pike's - was granted permission to sell booze between 6am until 11pm, seven days a week, by Cyngor Gwynedd.

The applicant Robert Christy Mariyampilla had requested the licence to run between 6am and midnight, but the council's central licensing sub-committee agreed to 6am-11pm when it met on Monday, December 1.

Gwenan Roberts, head of the licensing team, described the business as “a long-established traditional newsagents” selling items such as tobacco, greeting cards and sweets, which had never sold alcohol.

The application had sparked comments by local councillor Nia Jeffreys, who was concerned over the hours alcohol sales would be available.